Folding comb



March 19, 1929. E, PERSON I 1,705,644

FOLDING COMB Original Filed June 25, 1926 J Z JJ L KJB 015,74 0 I 1 1/?"*EIE my jgjz.

Patented Mar. 19 1929.

UNITED TA ES A 1 eater FOLDING COMB.

Application filed June 23, 1926, Serial No. 118,065. Renewed November 5,1928.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide simple means forhinging the parts Fig. 2 isa top plan View of the same, both v figuresshowing the comb in position foruse; and x Fig. 3 is a plan showing thecomb folded into a space substantially one third of its length. v

I have chosen to show a comb hinged in two places so as to be folded inthree parts, but of course the invention can be applied to a comb foldedin two parts and hinged in one place or even divided into a greaternumber of parts. But this is suflicient to show the principle of theinvention.

In this form the comb is cut into three pieces in such a way that nomaterial space is lost between any of the teeth. The two end pieces 10'are both hinged to the middle piece 11 by hinges 12 preferably ofpressed or other metal. These hinges are small and arranged to swing thecombs on axes at the front and back, respectively, of the ends of themiddle section. They are united to each comb section by two rivets orother metallic elements extending through the comb sections which are ofcelluloid or any other comb material. In this way they insure therigidity of the comb as far as any swinging about any axis except theaxes of the two hinges.

On each end section at the rear of one and the front of the other is'apivot stud 14 in the form of a metallic pin and on this is pivoted anarm 15 formed of the same material and ornamented or colored in the sameway as the comb. It is shown as extending in a straight plane parallelto the comb section for a distance extending considerably beyond thepoint at which the comb is clivided. It is then bent inwardly at anangle at 17 and then back into an end 18 parallel to the main body ofthe arm. Y

The central section is provided with two slantingnotches 20 into whichthe angular portions 17 of the two pivoted arms are adapted to fit.These notches are as deep as the, arm is wide so that when'the arms are;

brought, into position as shown in Fig. 2 in thesenotches, the walls ofthe notches will tend to hold the. comb sections rigidly to- EARL R.ransom, or LEOMINSTER, MAss cHUsnr'rs,'Assrcavoaro on some vrsco stillmore firmly together. Furthermore, on

account of the fact that the notches areflocated at a distance from thehinged axesfand the arms are bent to fit closely in them, there ispractically no chance forswinging e f the outer hinged sections withrelation to thefcenter one because it would necessitate the elongationof this arm or the breaking of the parts. The armis as strong and thickas the comb material and will hold the parts firmly in their expandedpositions so that the comb can be used freely without any attentionbeing paid to the fact that it is collapsible. It is practically asrigid as a one-piece comb.

When it is desired to fold the comb up, the arms are swung far around toa position opposite to that shown in Fig. 2 and as they are I bothlocated on the outside of the end sections they do not interfere withthe folding of the sections whit-his shown in. Fig. 3. Thus the comb canbe putaway in a small space and 1s always ready to be straightened outand held firmly in its straight position for use. The 7 locking arms arevery durable and are retained in the position shown in Fig. 3 by thefact that the end 18 has to be pushed back with a little pressure to getit over the edge of the comb so that it willbe held there by friction.

This constitutes a very simple device for this purpose involving nometal'except for the pins and hinges and does not add greatly to V V theexpense of the construction.

' Although Ihave illustrated and described only a single form of theinvention 1 am aware of the fact that modifications can be made thereinby any person skilled in the art without departing from thescope of'theinvention as expressed in the claims;

Therefore I do not wish to be limited toall l the details ofconstruction herein shown and described, but what do claim is 2- 1. In afolding comb, the combination with two comb sections hinged end to end,and a hinge on one side thereof, of an arm plvoted to one of saidsections and adapted to project hinge on one side thereof having ltspivoted axis ad acent the surface of the comb, of an beyond the hinge,the other section having a notch for receiving the end of the arm tohold the two sections together rigidly and in flat condition for use.

2. In a folding comb, the combination with two comb sections hingedcndto end, and a arm pivoted to the opposite side of one of said sectionsand formed of the same material asthe comb and adapted to project beyondthe hinge and against the other section,

the other section having a notch for receiving "the end of the arm tohold the two sections together rigidly and in flat condition for use.

' 3. In a folding toilet article, the combinaof the article and the armhaving an angular projection fitting in said notch.

4. In a folding comb, the combination with two sections hinged togetherto swing back into parallel planes, of an arm pivoted. on one sectionata distance from the-:end andoVerhanging the other section asubstantial distance and having a slanting portion and an end portionparallel with its main part,the other section of the comb having aslanting vertical slot for receiving said arm, whereby the surfaceofthearin from the pivot to the slot will engage the two combsections onone side and theextr'eme end of the arm will engage the main combsection on the other side to hold the parts in rigid condition.

'5. In a folding comb, the combination with three sections arranged endto end, two hinges for connecting said sections together, the hingesbeing on opposite sides and each hinge connecting the central sectionwith one end section, the central section having two notches in itsupper edge and each end section having an arm thereon adapted to engageone of said notches for holding the sections together in a flatcondition.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed my signature; 1

R. PERSON."

